Tripura has set a target of achieving 500 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath said on Thursday, highlighting the state government's efforts to expand clean energy generation and create a skilled workforce for the growing solar energy sector.

The Minister while addressing the launch of the Tripura Clean Energy Roadmap, Green Skilling Programme and TREAT Initiative Workshop in a hotel at Agartala on Thursday, said the energy sector was undergoing a profound transformation worldwide, with renewable energy, particularly solar power, emerging as a major driver of economic growth, technological innovation, employment generation and sustainable development.

"It is in this context that I am particularly pleased to speak about UTSA -- Unnayan through Transformative Solar Applications, the flagship Green Energy Skill Development Programme of Tripura government. UTSA is an important initiative aimed at creating skilled manpower for the rapidly expanding solar energy sector of our state," Minister Nath said.

"Under UTSA, the Tripura Renewable Energy Development Agency (TREDA), in collaboration with the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission (TRLM) and the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited (TSECL), is implementing training programmes such as Suryamitra and Solar PV Technician," he added.

Minister Nath said that the programme is supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and aligned with the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-supported programme for transforming renewable energy in Tripura.

He noted that several Central and state initiatives, including PM-KUSUM, PM-DevINE, PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, PM-JANMAN, Grameen Bazaar Alok Jyoti Prakalpa, solar micro-grids, green hydrogen, micro hydel, hydrokinetics, pumped storage, battery storage and biogas projects, were bringing clean energy closer to farmers, households, public institutions and communities.

"Tripura has achieved around 58.76 MW of renewable energy capacity. Under PM-KUSUM, 9,401 solar pumps have been installed and another 1,709 are underway, supporting nearly 18,802 acres. Solarisation of 1,341 grid-connected pumps is also generating 4.40 million units annually, saving around Rs 76.65 lakh and enabling farmers to become clean-energy producers," the Minister said.

He added that solar micro-grids were providing clean energy to around 9,762 families under PM-DevINE and 1,703 households under PM-JANMAN.

Minister Nath said that Tripura's achievements in renewable energy had also received national recognition, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighting the state's initiatives in his "Mann Ki Baat" programme.

"The state was also recognised as the best-performing state among the Northeastern states for installing the highest number of solar pumps under PM-KUSUM, while it received award in 2025 for its 2.09 MW solar micro-grid project," he added.

Minister Nath said the state's 500 MW renewable energy target by 2030 would include green villages, rooftop solar installations on government buildings and residential premises, ground-mounted solar power plants, solar micro-grids, decentralised renewable energy-based livelihood applications and other off-grid solutions.

"The UTSA programme directly supports the Tripura Energy Vision 2030 and the 6Ds Clean Energy Road Map 2025-2035, particularly by developing solar PV skills applicable to rooftop solar, micro and mini-grids, battery energy storage systems and renewable energy livelihood programmes," he added.

He said the UTSA programme would create skilled manpower while rooftop solar programmes would create the market for such trained personnel.